Women are still being prevented from reaching their full potential, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

She is expected to criticise the “macho male image” at a Downing Street gender and work summit hosted by Chancellor Gordon Brown today.

The meeting is part of a drive to help women work in the male-dominated sectors of IT and science.

Women in full-time work earn 19% less than men, according to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Their research found that many Britons believed that the pay gap between men and women is the result of natural differences between the sexes.

Women also hold less than 10% of the top positions in FTSE 100 companies, the police, the judiciary and trade unions, according to their figures.